Prompted by increasing demand in South Africa for the development of a focused but flexible English Second Language (ESL) curriculum at university level, this thesis contends that substantial theoretical under-pinning is needed for decisions on ESL course materials. Once the theoretical constructs are determined, a model based on a systematic approach to course design is proposed. It maximizes the individualization of experiential learning, despite the large numbers of students who take these courses, through a multi-form course structure offering four streams of study at three levels of difficulty. Entry is possible at the start of the year and at mid-year. The empirical research which forms the basis of the study is an analysis of the 1985 student group at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Several methods are used, including post-course questionnaires, diagnostic assignments and a detailed language and stylistic error count linked with a clause analysis of a sample of assignments and examination scripts. The model curriculum meets the contextually basic science requirements of a university course, within the parameters of response needed in regard to the ESL student profile determined by the needs and role analysis completed in Chapter 2. Model aims and terminal learning objectives are presented in Chapter 3 as the foundation on which the rest of the thesis is constructed, and include comprehension, applied composition, oral and aural skills, use of reference works, methods of thinking, and occupationally relevant specialist language. In Chapters 4 and 5, in-depth analyses of appropriate course content and methods emphasize the use of Afrocentric English literature in contemporary settings with appropriate readability levels, language in use in specified contexts, development of vocabulary, remedying incorrect usage, comprehension skills, composition skills, development of cognitive processes, oral and listening skills, and the purpose and place of grammar. The final chapters outline approaches to criterion-referenced assessment and evaluation, and suggest appropriate set works and criteria for their selection. The course materials aim at improving English communicative performance. The underlying principles used in developing this course design and its associated materials can be valuably extrapolated and applied at universities and other tertiary institutions. / English Studies / D. Litt et Phil. (English)

Orientadora: Juliana Bertucci Barbosa / Banca: Caroline Carnielli Biazolli / Banca: Daniel Soares da Costa / Resumo: O domínio da expressão oral com proficiência e desenvoltura amplia as possibilidades do estudante na vida escolar, social e pessoal. Entretanto, a escola e os materiais didáticos, que dão suporte ao trabalho do professor, ainda não reconhecem a oralidade e, consequentemente, os gêneros orais, como objeto de ensino. Ainda hoje, muitas vezes, a oralidade, quando trabalhada nas aulas de língua portuguesa, é tratada como lugar do "erro" numa perspectiva polarizada em relação à escrita. Dessas constatações originou-se este estudo que tem dois objetivos principais: investigar como o gênero lenda urbana pode possibilitar o desenvolvimento da competência comunicativa, oral e escrita, de alunos do 6º ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola da Rede Pública Estadual de Bauru, SP; e elaborar uma sequência didática que focalize o gênero lenda urbana, considerando a relação de interação e complementaridade entre as modalidades oral e escrita da língua e a noção de adequação do discurso às situações de comunicação. Para tanto, seguimos as orientações dos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais (1998) e embasamo-nos em linguistas que defendem o trabalho com a oralidade em sala de aula sob uma visão não dicotômica, como Antunes (2009), Cavalcante e Melo (2009), Fávero et al (2012) e Marcuschi (2005, 2007, 2008), dentre outros. Além disso, para o desenvolvimento da atividade com o gênero lenda urbana, seguimos o modelo de sequência didática proposto por Dolz e Schneuwly (2004). Metodologicamente... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The mastery of oral expression with proficiency expands the student's possibilities in school, social and personal life. However, school and teaching materials, which support the teacher‟s work, still have not recognized orality and, consequently, oral genres as an object of teaching. When orality is approached in Portuguese classes is still considered a place of "error" in a polarized perspective in relation to writing. These findings led to the current study which has two main objectives: to investigate how the urban legend genre can promote the development of oral and written communicative competence of students from the 6th grade of the Public Elementary School in Bauru, SP; and to elaborate a didactic sequence that focuses on the urban legend genre, considering the relation of interaction and complementarity between the oral and written modalities of the language and the notion of adequacy of the discourse to the situations of communication. Therefore, the National Curriculum Parameters (1998) guidelines were considered and linguists who defend the work with orality in the classroom under a non-dichotomous vision supported this work, such as Antunes (2009), Cavalcante e Melo (2009), Fávero et al (2012) and Marcuschi (2005, 2007, 2008) among others. In addition, in order to design the genre urban legend activity, the didactic sequence model proposed by Doz and Schneuwly (2004) was used. In relation to methodology, action research of qualitative nature and intervention and interpretative character was chosen. The following steps were taken: a) bibliographical review, b) analysis of official documents and didactic materials; c) elaboration of the didactic sequence, d) analysis of the results and revision of the didactic sequence. The didactic sequence was applied to seventeen students of the Public Elementary School in Bauru, SP and they were... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-05-30Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:49:01Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 falasca_p_me_arafcl.pdf: 798629 bytes, checksum: ac8d6b2e55022d56b018aba15cb0fc01 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Esta pesquisa busca pensar a questão da constituição da subjetividade do aprendiz de inglês como língua estrangeira (LE), partindo da hipótese de que o aluno, no caso, adulto, ao se deparar com a língua alvo (LA), enfrenta um embate entre o que já está constituído em sua língua materna (constituição que se encontra também em constante modificação) e o novo, que vem atrelado à LE. Para realizar a pesquisa, partimos de uma perspectiva discursiva, baseada nas ideias do Círculo de Bakhtin (1976, 1981, 1997, 2006). Acreditamos que, ao entrar em contato com a nova língua/cultura, o aluno, enquanto sujeito que se constitui na linguagem, passa por uma série de deslocamentos identitários, constitutivos de sua subjetividade de base, os quais lhe permitem utilizar a outra língua. Na perspectiva dialógica e discursiva apresentada na pesquisa, refletimos sobre tais processos de deslocamento identitário, levando as contribuições bakhtinianas para a área de Aquisição de Linguagem, assim como para os estudos em aquisição/aprendizagem de LE. Analisamos, ao longo do trabalho, seis relatos escritos e cinco entrevistas de alunos adultos de inglês como LE, em situação formal de aprendizagem numa escola de idiomas da cidade de Americana, SP. Buscamos, nos discursos de tais alunos, indícios de sua subjetividade e da emergência identitária trazida pela língua estrangeira. As análises dos dados nos revela que a hipótese dos deslocamentos identitários é consistente, uma vez que flagramos, em alguns momentos da fala dos alunos e de seus relatos escritos, índices de tais movimentos de um domínio a outro e de mudanças de pontos de vista, dentro da linguagem e por meio dela / This research aims to consider the issue of the subjectivity constitution of the adult learner of English as a foreign language, assuming that the adult learners, as they encounter the target language, they also face a conflict between what has already been established through their first language (what, in a way, is always changing and assuming new possibilities) and the new point of view, attached to the foreign language. We lead the research according to a discursive point of view, based on the ideas of Bakhtin and his Circle (1976, 1981, 1997, 2006). We believe that in contact with the new language/culture, the student, as a subject that is constituted in and through the language, has to go through a series of identity movements, which allow them to use the other language. In the discursive and dialogical perspective presented on this work, we look at these processes of identity movements, bringing the bakhtinian point of view to the Language Acquisition field as well as to the studies on Second Language Learning. In this research, we analyze six written reports and five interviews of adults learners of English as a foreign language, from a formal learning process in a language school in Americana, SP (Brazil). We aim to show, in the speech of such students, evidences of their subjectivity and the emergence of a new identity, linked to the foreign language. The data analysis reveals that the hypothesis of the identity movement is consistent, since it is possible to recognize traits of changes of point of view in the considered speeches

M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. (Language Teaching) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

South African education has been going through a process of transformation: from a traditional, transmission system to one of a more progressive nature. In the new curriculum, Curriculum 2005 anchored on Outcomes-based Education (OBE), focus is laid on critical reflection, innovation and creativity by classroom participants. Learning situations are expected to promote flexibility, co-operation and relevance of teaching/learning materials. This research looks at these aspects in the English Second Language (ESL) situation where print media articles are used as resource. Other than being a rich resource for language, print media texts have been found to be appropriate for this exploration because of their potential to offer opportunities for critical reflection and interaction with authentic issues. Unlike uncritical reliance on textbooks, the proper use of media articles can give the teachers and learners the space to select relevant and exciting materials for their situations. In this study, the research was done through action research where I (the researcher) actually taught the lessons in collaboration with the English teacher. The teaching method was influenced by the Freirean style of Iiberatory teaching where critical reflection, socio-political relevance and co-operation are crucial elements. The action research was done in two cycles. Experiences in the first cycle pointed to, among other aspects, the fact that the learners could not work in a co-operative way as they were not used to it. Addressing this problem consequently became the basis of the second cycle where the skills of co-operative learning were taught before the learners engaged in further lessons. The conclusions drawn from this research point to the importance of the teacher as an agent in the learning process if the demands of progressive and liberatory teaching are to be met. It has thus been concluded that elements such as critical thinking, creativity, flexibility and selection/development of relevant materials presuppose the existence of a well-trained teacher who is skilled and able to make these possible. In the light of my findings, my major recommendation is that teacher development needs to be strengthened so that more emphasis is placed on enhancing the teacher's ability to critique texts and improve his or her own practice, acquiring the skills to teach in a critical way and achieving the learning competencies.

No description available.

This thesis analyses the way in which placement testing is being interpreted in Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET). The thesis examines whether the placement tests used in the case study were valid in terms of whether their contents were relevant and authentic with regard to what English second language speakers could reasonably be expected to know. Adult learners have differing English second language knowledge depending on the different contexts in which they have learned their second language. This thesis investigates the implications of the different contexts and different language needs of adult learners for the testing of English as a second language for placement purposes in ABET programmes. The thesis examined two placement tests to determine how the recognition of prior second language learning was being interpreted and how the interpretation affected the validity of the tests. Learners= perceptions of the assessment process and test content were elicited in order to determine whether a policy of transparency had been followed in the implementation of the assessment. It was also established what the goals of the organisation were in implementing an ABET programme. This research suggests that placement testing should be viewed holistically; in other words, the goals of the organisation and the level of transparency affect the validity of the placement test. The conclusions were that the placement tests were inauthentic since their contents excluded certain vital aspects of real life performance, namely, that related to the work context. The research revealed that if the placement testing process and the ABET programme are integrated into the culture of the organisation and if employees are remunerated when they have passed the different levels in the programme, the programme is likely to achieve a fair measure of success. Recommendations are that literacy should be viewed as based on a variety of contexts and uses and that therefore tests should be tailored to suit each particular organisation and should contain workrelated content. Furthermore, multiple methods of assessment should be considered.

Uit Inleiding: Hoe belangrik is die aanleer van woordeskat by die verwerwing van 'n vreemde taal? Indien dit van besondere belang is, kan met reg gevra word: watter beginsels moet in ag geneem word by die opstel van metodes en tegnieke om die aanleer van die woordeskat met optimum effektiwiteit te laat plaasvind? Wat is die teoretiese basis vir sulke metodes en tegnieke? Hierdie is enkele vrae wat in hierdie ondersoek aan die orde sal kom. Die begrip "semantiese velde" of "betekenisvelde" is 'n idee wat in die jongste tyd heelwat aandag geniet by linguiste. Die konsep "betekenisveld" veronderstel twee kenmerke van die leksikon: 1. Dat die betekenisaspek van elke individuele leksikale item, kragtens kontras bestaan en dat hierdie kontras tussen betekeniskomponente van leksikale items in die leksikon teregkom, veral binne 'n betekenisveldsiening. 2. Dat die leksikon kragtens die relasies tussen die leksikale items 'n georganiseerde en gestruktureerde versameling is. In ons ondersoek sal dit dus hoofsaaklik gaan oor: 1. Bestaande metodes en tegnieke om woordeskat te onderrig. 2. Bestaande toerieë oor die gestruktureerdheid van woordeskat. 3. Die moontlikhede wat hierdie teorieë inhou, om die onderrig van woordeskat meer effektief te laat plaasvind.

M.A. (African Languages) / Please refer to full text to view abstract